Mounting seedlings?

[Forever-mango]

I have some Dendrobium spec. seedlings in 50mm pots, and was wondering should i mount on a large piece of Cyathea Mount or cork mount? Also what size should the mount be? The seedling is just about 8cm tall and 5cm wide.

Regards
Stephen

[rcb]

Stephen, are these the ones you recently deflasked? If so, and they are growing well, I would probably wait a little before you mount them.

Ok, but if you want to experiment with one or two, then mounting works best when the plant is just starting to put out new roots - just like repotting.

As for the size of the mount, I personally like to choose a mount that will accomodate the plant at it's mature size. As your plants are still small, your instincts will be to use a small mount, but speciosums can get pretty large.

Now you can choose a smaller mount, and as the plant gets too large for it, attach it to a larger mount. But that is more work and I'm basically lazy lol so I don't like to do that.

[Forever-mango]

Thanks Renee, how are you?

Yes, these are the ones i recently deflasked last October. I have 30 odd plants currently in 50mm pots. I have a few scattered around to experiment how they will turn out around the area. I just recently got help from my old man to put up my mesh for the mounts. I got heaps more room for them now and want to expand my mount collection. Just wondering, would it look weird have a tiny orchid mounted on a big mount?

Kind Regards
Stephen

[rcb]

Originally Posted by Forever-mango

Just wondering, would it look weird have a tiny orchid mounted on a big mount?

Stephen, I'm fine, thanks.

And yes they do kind of look a little pathetic, a tiny little plant on a big mount. But again, this is just my preference. I would recommend that if you go ahead and mount, at least allow for 3 - 5 years growth.

And also, since you have many to choose from, look for one putting out new roots. They will transition better than one that doesn't have new roots.

[Forever-mango]

Cool thanks Renee. Also what type of mounting wood would you choose?

[rcb]

Stephen - Any type of hardwood that is untreated and doesn't excrete chemicals really would work. Many people use cork bark - maybe even most people.

I have used cholla, grapevine, untreated cedar shingles. the cedar is convenient for me, but not the most asthetically pleasing. Cholla, when I can find it is nice looking, grapevine is very nice looking, but expensive here.

I'm not really sure what's available in Australia - maybe one of the Australians can help you. Also, most orchids nurseries do carry options for mounting, you can check out if any are close to you.

[Forever-mango]

Cool, thanks again

Will have alook around and see what I can find

[domresvanis]

I like to mount most of my orchids in tree fern.Some of them on virgin cork.My Dendrombiums are all of them growing on tree ferns.If you decide to mount some of yours seedlings you must give them more water that you give them into the plastic pots.Becouse now it is summer you must be very carefull.I was working for a period at an Orchid Nursery.The owner did never mount Dendrombiums speciosum if they were not 2-3 years old.This is becouse when they are seedlings they grow better in plastic pots.

[kmarch]

I think Den speciosum is not a good candidate for mounting. To begin with they don't grow on trees in the wild, they grow on rocks mostly, secondly they get enormous, would need remounting over the years, and after 10 years or so the plant and mount would be too big to really do anything with. I think speciosum is best grown in a pot.

[Julez]

So kmarch

How do you mount a Den sp onto rock?

[kmarch]

I don't mount them on rocks I was just saying that's how they grow in the wild.

[Forever-mango]

Thanks guys. Kevin, even with the more compact grown speciosums, would they be ok to mount? Or you rather have them in pots as well?

[jerrymeola]

I have to totally agree with Kevin.

The two most impressive awarded plants in the US were over nine feet wide and had between 70-104,000 flowers. How could any mount ever look that good?

I do find speciosum to be extremely hardy and can survive almost anything when large, but I do not like to mount any seedling (and I mount thousands of plants every year). I find growth is slower for seedlings, all types, when mounted then when in a pot.

[rodbender]

I agree with Kevin and Jerry Den speciosum would becom way to large to mount.
but smaller compact growing dens are great for mounts
I use cork, tree fern and rocks for mounts they will adhere to most anything
heres a pic of a small den. on a rock

[Julez]

Originally Posted by kmarch

I don't mount them on rocks I was just saying that's how they grow in the wild.

I wasn't trying to be funny, I was serious. I have a nice little rock garden with full sun and I wouldn't mind giving it ago.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Julez

I wasn't trying to be funny, I was serious. I have a nice little rock garden with full sun and I wouldn't mind giving it ago.

If you don't plan on moving or dividing them, I've mounted on orchids on rock previously by drilling holes along the side of the rock across where the orchid is going to sit, fitting screws using wall plugs and using the screws as anchor points for the fishing line, nylon hose or whatever else you normally use to tie orchids on to their mounts. Use a pad of bush moss over the roots while the plant is establishing. I agree with what others have said about not mounting seedling so wait a few years before mounting them. Mounting on rocks works well if you can keep the water up to them, although I've stopped doing it as I no longer have the luxury of being able to water them as much as they need.

[Schlyne]

Originally Posted by Julez

I wasn't trying to be funny, I was serious. I have a nice little rock garden with full sun and I wouldn't mind giving it ago.

You've got me curious now. I purchased a "volcano plant" over the weekend from The Plant House. The volcano plants are just a few different types of plants that are mounted on lava rock. You just water them by soaking the rock in an inch or two of water.... I suppose you could try mounting it to a big chunk of lava rock and use the panty hose method?

This is roughly what mine looks like
Hawaiian Sunshine Nursery Catalog

[Julez]

Originally Posted by Andrew

If you don't plan on moving or dividing them, I've mounted on orchids on rock previously by drilling holes along the side of the rock across where the orchid is goin to sit, fitting screws using wall plugs and using the screws as anchor points for the fishing line, nylon hose or whatever else you normally use to tie orchids on to their mounts. Use a pad of bush moss over the roots while the plant is establishing. I agree with what others have said about not mounting seedling so what a few years before mounting them. Mounting on rocks works well if you can keep the water up to them, although I've stopped doing it as I no longer have the luxury of being able to water them as much as they need.

Umm I was thinking of getting a mature Den sp and give it a go. Where I plan to keep gets watered twice a week.......ummm will have to seriously think about it..... Thanks for the inspiration all

[Andrew]

You may find they need watering more often than twice a week during summer.

[Forever-mango]

Thankyou so much everyone for their advise.

I will leave them in the pots and try to mount something else

[exasperatus2002]

Originally Posted by jerrymeola

I have to totally agree with Kevin.

The two most impressive awarded plants in the US were over nine feet wide and had between 70-104,000 flowers. How could any mount ever look that good?

I do find speciosum to be extremely hardy and can survive almost anything when large, but I do not like to mount any seedling (and I mount thousands of plants every year). I find growth is slower for seedlings, all types, when mounted then when in a pot.

Holy cow! Now theres one orchid I'd have hated to judge. How long would it take to count all the blooms?